Just Don't Look Right!

[mhubacek]

My new 72' CJ5 has what I believe to be jerry-rigged suspension. The PO did a shackle reversal in the front. The front spring mount was welded to a 3/8 square tube to drop the spring mount down about 2". He also used what I believe are the old narrow cj springs, and they seem to be flatened out quite a bit. In the rear, it looks like PO made some home made shackles that I think are way too long. The rear springs are also flatened out quite a bit. The cj gets up to about 50mph without scaring the out of me. It may work on the trail, but I want to be able to at least drive this to the woods. I'm going to to SOA on my 68', but I think I may keep it simple and just do a SUA 4" lift on this, and get rid of all this funky suspension stuff. What do you think?

 

[CJ]

Well, I can say that my 72 has nothing like that - I have owned it 76 so I know it has never been tampered with. I can cruise at 70 all day long with one hand on the wheel (gas mileage suffers though! ).

Do you want to put it back to stock (perches and such)? I can take pictures.

And YES - that shackle is !

 

[BrockGrimes]

That's some scary looking .
It never ceases to amaze me the kinda people will wheel into
the middle of nowhere and expect to make it back.

 

[mhubacek]

I just want my leaf spring mounts/perches back to they're factory locations, do a yj spring conversion w/4" lift springs. I think that would allow me to keep those new tires underneath it, and allow it to ride better. I don't understand why someone would do all that to it, then cut corners where it really counts! I guess they didn't have a site like this to steer them in the right direction! CJ, pics would be greatly appreciated when conveinient! It looks like the PO may have extended the front of the frame a few inches, if you have measurements I could take to get the Spring perches mounted back to the proper areas it would help me greatly.

 

[BajaEdition]

I just want my leaf spring mounts/perches back to they're factory locations, do a yj spring conversion w/4" lift springs. I think that would allow me to keep those new tires underneath it, and allow it to ride better. I don't understand why someone would do all that to it, then cut corners where it really counts! I guess they didn't have a site like this to steer them in the right direction! CJ, pics would be greatly appreciated when conveinient! It looks like the PO may have extended the front of the frame a few inches, if you have measurements I could take to get the Spring perches mounted back to the proper areas it would help me greatly.

I would agree all that looks scary, and you will get good advice here. First go out and buy some stock style shackles and new spring perches. Cause getting that thing back to stock is where you can then do a CORRECT conversion.
Hey, take it from me, this is the site for good advice, it seems the crowd loves CJs and want to see conversions done correct. not a bunch of do anything just to save a few bucks crowd.

 

[mhubacek]

BajaEdition- If I drop it down to stock those tires won't fit. I feel like I'm going to have to do everything at the same time. I'm looking at the Rocky Road wrangler spring conversion kit. I figure if I have to put new spring hangers on, I might as well move to wider springs. The kit comes with everything necessary to get everything mounted properly for new lift springs. What do you think of that kit? It is about $500, but is the only kit I can find to do the conversion on 75' and earlier CJ.
:dunno:

http://www.rocky-road.com/cj-to-yj.html

 

[BajaEdition]

BajaEdition- If I drop it down to stock those tires won't fit. I feel like I'm going to have to do everything at the same time. I'm looking at the Rocky Road wrangler spring conversion kit. I figure if I have to put new spring hangers on, I might as well move to wider springs. The kit comes with everything necessary to get everything mounted properly for new lift springs. What do you think of that kit? It is about $500, but is the only kit I can find to do the conversion on 75' and earlier CJ.
:dunno:

CJ to YJ spring conversion kit for 1955-1975 Jeeps

Doing it all at once is the best bet. Nice kit